Will be visiting Emilia Romagna this summer. Focus will be car factories: Ferrari, Lambo, Pagani, Ducati, and Imola (racetrack). The factories are dotted between Modena and Bologna. Which one would be a better base town for 5 or 6 days? We will have a car for the day trips. Other day trip candidates are Ravenna and San Mario.

I'll have two college hipster kids in toll so Bologna seems more appealing as it's an university town. How does Modena compare to Bologna?

Besides cars, there's also interest in food, castles, and authentic Italian old towns.

Thanks in advance.

I'm just back from 5 days in Bologna and LOVED the city. Fantastic old town, at the same time lively and bustling. I can't compare because I have not been to Modena, but you can't go wrong with Bologna.

Bologna is a much larger town with probably more to keep your children interested. But be sure you find a hotel where you can easily drive in and out as the centre is a ZTL zone so you can't bring a car in. Modena is probably easier from that perspective but I have never stayed there.

A poster here called sandralist will hopefully reply as she knows the area very well and gives good advice.

We spent 5 nights in bologna and visited Modena - you can see our pics here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...7637221873063/

We stayed at this b&b that has parking and is short walk to the main square and also very close to the ring road to get out of town:
http://www.anticaresidenzadazeglio.it

Happy planning!

Make reservations for the factory tours... I believe Ducati is closed the month of August.

I assume you know the Ferrari tour (for non-owners) is just riding a bus as it moves through the factory. No getting off the bus. No photos.

Pagani was my favorite factory. Lots of passion for the cars.

If you have any spare time, there is a Stanguellini Museum in Modena. We haven't visited it, but I'm sure my car crazy husband will get us there eventually. Also, just outside of Modena, a wealthy guy keeps his collection of classic Maseratis. Google Umberto Panini classic Maserati collection. Visits by appointment only.

If the focus really is on cars, stay in Modena. The younger ones can hop on one of the very frequent trains and be in Bologna in about 30 minutes.

Definitely stay outside the central area of Bologna or Modena, as both have large and strictly enforced ZTLs. The ZTL area in both cities is within the area that was once inside the city walls. This is a somewhat smaller area in Modena, because it's a smaller city.

It's hard to find parking in Bologna. We found a spot fairly easily in Modena the one time we went by car, but maybe we were just lucky.

Most of the youthful action in Bologna is at night, when it is cooler, so you might want to stay in Bologna. The Aemilia hotel is close to the student quarter and has parking. It is only steps beyond the historic walls, and you can access it without passing through any ZTL's, but you do need to pay attention. Ask the hotel for specifics both for arriving and when you head out for day trips.

I would highly recommend substituting Vignola for San Marino as a place for food, castles and authenticity. It is between Maranello and Bologna. Only a 15 minute drive from Vignola is very small town of Castelvetro di Modena, which is also worthwhile for its chessboard piazza, food shopping and charm.

A picture of Vignola (its castle interior is beautifully painted):

http://thisitalianlife.blogspot.it/2...us-x-none.html

http://www.emiliaromagnaturismo.com/...etails?ID=1030

http://www.visitmodena.it/en/places_...et_recipe.aspx

http://www.visitmodena.it/en/places_...a_vignola.aspx

a picture of Castelvetro in Modena

http://www.charmerelax.it/20110624_castelvetro.html

http://www.visitmodena.it/en/places_...ic_center.aspx



In summer, you might find it a lot of fun to work in a visit to the beach, maybe in combination with your trip to Ravenna or Imola. The sun sets very late at that time of year, and it can be quite enjoyable to head to the beach for the swim near the end of the day and some easy snacks. Don't expect pretty scenery but instead enjoy a very old-fashioned style of Italian summer beachgoing, with boardwalks, motorcycle boys, dance competitions -- it's all silly rather than hip, but it has Fellini-esque charm (he's from Rimini).

I like Modena immensely, but I think your college hipsters might enjoy Bologna more. Modena is a bit more staid, wealthier and self-satisfied community, devoted to classical music (among other things) and Boogna is literally jazzier. For food lovers, I would give Modena the slight edge (and its market is very much worth visiting in the morning), so if you are less concerned about amusing the hipsters in the evening, then Modena is a good choice. (Don't know which hotel you should pick though.)

Finally, Ravenna is one of the most spectacular and impressive art and history sites in Europe. Even travelers who have limited patience with cultural sightseeing almost invariably report back how glad they were they visited Ravenna and how amazed they were by the enormous and colorful ancient Byzantine mosaics. Many other places you have mentioned have many charming and interesting aspects, but Ravenna is the one place with utterly unique offerings that have no equal in Italy, so I highly recommend visiting the pleasant town and taking a look.

Thanks everyone for your insight.

I have already made factory tour reservations with Ducati and Lambo. In fact, I did that before I secure my plan tickets so I know the days I have to work with.

Seems like I should move Ravenna higher on the priority list. I was planning only a couple hours for the mosaics but sounds like the town itself has much more to offer.

Lastly, I will try to rent apartments, rather than 2 hotel rooms. I rented apartments thru out our Germany trip last summer and it worked out much better for family together time. So, in the end, my choice between Modena/Bologna might be decided by my apartment options, which may include staying in both cities for shorter duration each.

But sounds like can't go wrong with either or both cities!

Modena typically doesn't have anywhere near as many options for vacation rentals as Bologna does, but you might luck out. Sometimes apartments are rented by b&bs, or listed that way, so when you are searching, look at b&b listings as well. Even if they don't have apartments, sometimes the b&bs are so small that renting 2 rooms books out the entire b&b, so there are no other guests but you, and you will be allowed to use the kitchen.

Ravenna is a very rewarding place. It is hard to see everything interesting in just one day. Including the mosaics, it is interesting to take a look at the flooded crypt under the altar of the Church of San Francesco.

We went to Ravenna from Bologna by train and loved it. Am going to search for at TR about it and report back. I agree with sandralist above.

Here it is! TR is from ellenem--really interesting:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rip-report.cfm